When the tip is lengthened in the right proportion, you look in the mirror and see a more balanced, refined face — still unmistakably your own.
A short or upturned nose can be something you were born with, the result of an old injury, or the outcome of a previous rhinoplasty that did not turn out the way you hoped. Whatever the reason, the first thing that matters is for your surgeon to examine you in person and assess what the structure of your nose will allow.
Everything begins with an examination and consultation with a specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery. Your surgeon assesses how short the nose is, how upturned the tip is, the height of the bridge, the width of the base and the nostrils, how thick or thin the skin is, how open the airway is inside, and whether there is any local infection. You also have blood count and clotting tests before surgery.
The surgery is done under local anaesthesia, which means the nasal area is numbed while you stay awake. Depending on the method and any work done alongside it, the operation usually takes about 1 to 2 hours.
The heart of the surgery is lengthening the tip. Several different techniques exist, and your surgeon chooses the one that fits the cause and degree of change in your nose. If the nose is short because an old implant was placed too long, the surgeon may remove the old silicone piece, replace it, and add a cartilage graft at the tip. If the nose is short and upturned from birth or from an injury, the surgeon usually lengthens the tip with your own cartilage — taken from a rib, the ear, or the septum — grafted into different parts of the nose.
For the incision, depending on the person and the surgeon's approach, your surgeon may use an incision placed inside the nostrils (a "closed" rhinoplasty, which leaves no scar on the outside) or an incision that curves across the front of the columella (an "open" rhinoplasty). The incision is closed with fast-dissolving sutures or non-dissolving sutures.
The goal of the surgery is a nose that sits in better harmony with your face, not a particular number or a set template. This remains one of the more demanding nose surgeries, so an honest conversation with your surgeon about what can and cannot be achieved is very important.
This surgery does not require a hospital stay. You can return to normal daily activity right after the operation, and go back to work within a few days depending on what your job involves.
Every surgery carries risk, and this one is no different. According to the hospital's own source, complications are generally very rare, but you should still understand them clearly before you decide.
At The Gioi Dep, short and upturned nose correction is performed by a specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery. Before surgery, your surgeon examines each feature of your nose carefully — how short it is, how upturned, the height of the bridge, the base, the nostrils, the thickness of the skin, and how open the airway is inside — and only then chooses a technique. This is a demanding surgery, and we approach it with that care.
When the tip needs lengthening, our surgeons favour your own cartilage, taken from a rib, the ear, or the septum, using different grafting techniques to suit your nasal structure. A closed or open incision is weighed up for each person, and you are followed up, scheduled for suture removal, and seen again to assess the result around the 8-week mark.
The operation is done under local anaesthesia, so the nasal area is numbed during surgery. Afterwards you may feel mild soreness at the nose and the cartilage donor site, usually lasting about 3 to 5 days, and you are given pain relief.
The surgery does not require a hospital stay. You can return to normal daily activity right after the operation and go back to work within about 2 to 5 days, depending on how physical your job is.
Depending on the case, the surgeon may choose an incision placed entirely inside the nostrils (closed rhinoplasty), which leaves no scar on the outside. Some cases use an incision that curves across the columella (open rhinoplasty). Your surgeon will talk through the option that suits you.
The nose needs time to settle after surgery. The result is usually assessed around the 8-week mark.
For a short or upturned nose from birth or injury, the surgeon usually uses your own cartilage, taken from a rib, the ear, or the septum, to lengthen the tip.
There are cases where a short nose comes from a previous rhinoplasty, for example an implant placed too long. In that situation the surgeon can remove the old silicone piece, replace it, and add a cartilage graft at the tip. Your surgeon needs to examine you in person to understand your specific situation.
For the first 2 weeks after surgery, you should avoid any hard knock to the bridge. You also take antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medication, and pain relief as directed for about 5 to 7 days, and have sutures removed after about 7 days if non-dissolving sutures were used.
After surgery there may be bruising around the nose, the bridge, and the cartilage donor site, but it usually fades after a few days and can be covered with makeup. Swelling and mild soreness usually ease within about 3 to 5 days.
As with any surgery, there is still a risk of bleeding, infection, complications from anaesthesia, and a few situations such as an uneven tip or a crooked nose. According to the hospital's own source, these complications are generally very rare, but you should talk them through carefully with your surgeon.
This surgery is for people 18 or older who have a short or upturned nose. During the consultation, your surgeon will assess whether the method suits you.
Book a consultation to find out if this is right for you.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.